Mason & Sophie Duet

Chapter 2-2

“I’m in!” I tell him as we link arms, and he leads me to their game room.

“You know, this really isn’t helping the whole frat boy image,” I tease as we each grab a cue stick.

“You can take the college out of the frat boy, but you can’t take the frat boy out of college. Pi Kappa Alpha! Pikas, baby!” And then the roars of his repeated words echo from the living room.

“I take it your frat brothers are here too,” I say, laughing.

“Hell yeah. We only graduated a few months ago, and a lot of them stuck around. Hunter, Brandon, and Mason too.”

Of course.

“Kilan is here, too. He lives across the street, and we’ve been partying with him since we moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. He’s an investor or some s**t, so he’s always traveling, but when he’s home, he likes to relive his youth through us since he spent his college days stuck in a book. He’s in his thirties now, so we like to give him s**t about trying to keep up with us.” Liam cackles.

“Guess I never got into that stuff very much.” I shrug, watching as he racks the balls. “I went to a few parties but never joined a sorority.”

“We all played football, so it was kind of expected. But I can’t say I regret it. Made a s**t ton of friends for life, got into a ton of s**t too. But you only experience college once, so…”

“So you went balls to the wall?” I chuckle as Hunter and Mason enter.

“Twenty bucks says she takes your a*s to the cleaners,” Lennon goads, dragging Brandon behind her.

“No way,” Brandon says, laughing. “Sorry, Sophie. I’m gonna have to bet on Liam this time.”

Lennon looks at him with her mouth open. “Betting against my sister?”

“Babe, he’s basically a pro.” He waves his hand out for emphasis. “Been playing for years.”

“I’m pretty sure he majored in pool,” Hunter adds.

“He’s also drunk as hell,” Lennon counters, but we both know that’s not why she’s betting on me.

“I’ll go in on that bet,” Mason interrupts. “Fifty bucks on Sophie.”

“Asshole,” Liam mutters with a grin. Yep, he definitely knows our dirty little secret.

“Seriously?” I finally say. “I thought this was for fun.”

“It is. Show me whatcha got, Soph,” Liam taunts with a devilish grin. “Hell, with that outfit, I’d bet on you too.”

Mason growls behind me, making me smile. Liam’s eyes meet mine, and he winks.

“Alright, let’s do this.” I stretch my arms out and link my hands together, pretending to c***k them as if I’m about to do real damage.

“Ladies first,” Liam says, removing the triangle and hanging it up.

Though I’m pretty confident, I’m also wishing I hadn’t taken those last two shots right about now.

“Kill ’em, Soph,” Lennon cheers, and the guys all chuckle.

With my back hunched over and my legs parted, I line up my shot and narrow my eyes on the balls as I stroke the stick over my thumb a few times. Then I slam the cue ball and watch the striped and colored balls fly across the table. When a striped ball goes into one of the pockets, Lennon cheers.

“We calling it?” I ask Liam as I walk around, trying to find my next shot.

“Sure, let’s play by the rules.” He grins, standing on the other side. The fact that we’re secretly on the same side sends a thrill through my body. Even if it’s just to make Mason mad or jealous or whatever, I’m game. He had the nerve to f**k me in a bathroom and then say we could only be friends—which is fine, whatever—but he doesn’t get to act as though he’s concerned about me now. I stupidly gave him my number, and in the past month, he never texted or acted like he gave a s**t until the moment another guy gives me attention.

“Ten ball in the corner pocket,” I say, then get into position, biting my lower lip when I realize my a*s is right in front of Mason’s view. With precision, I slam it in.

“Fuuuuuck,” Liam groans. “Nice one.”

“Told ya.” Lennon beams.

“Want to increase the stakes?” I ask, eyeing Liam who’s grinning at me.

“Whatcha have in mind?” He arches a curious brow.

Biting down on my lower lip, I give myself a second to gain the courage I’ll need to go through with this. Maybe those shots were a good idea after all.

“Strip pool? Make a shot, the other person loses an item. Miss a shot, and you gotta take something off. Understand?” Once the words are out, there’s no going back, but I’m damn glad none of the other partygoers have come in here. They’re too busy drinking in the kitchen and dancing in the living room.

Lennon bursts out laughing, knowing damn well I’m about to strip him down to his underwear.

“Well, well, well...you just made things interesting.” He sets his stick against the wall, then leans down to remove both shoes for the last two balls I made.

“Should’ve worn layers tonight.” He chuckles.

I call two more balls before I miss, then it’s Liam’s turn. He’s stripped off both socks, and I’ve removed my right shoe for the one I missed.

He gets three in before he knocks one in with mine and forfeits his next turn.

“Strip,” I tell him.

I’ve removed my left shoe and then both earrings during his rounds. Of course he gave me s**t, saying I wasn’t playing fair, but that’s what he gets for not asking for specifics beforehand. I’ll take off every piece of jewelry before I take off my clothes.

We all watch as he peels off his shirt, and God Bless America, the man is ripped like Hercules. It shouldn’t come as a shock, though, considering the tight shirt he was wearing didn’t leave much to the imagination. Liam Evans is built like a linebacker I wouldn’t want to piss off. He has tattoos on both arms and his chest, and if my little sister were here, I’d be wiping her drool off the floor. She has a thing for bad boys even though she’s not been allowed to date either. I have a feeling the second she moves here next year, she’s going to be thinking of ways to get rid of her V-card.

I have two balls left, and he has three, so I take my time deciding on my next one.

“Getting worried?” Liam taunts. “Do you need me to show you how to really work that stick?”

I blush at his s****l innuendo, knowing he’s only doing it to piss off Mason, and by his audible grunt, it’s working.

“You know…” I say in a seductive tone, flirting back. “I could use some help. The whiskey has gone right to my head.” I straighten my spine with the stick in my right hand. “Do you think you could help me line up this shot? It looks like a tricky one.” I’m playing dumb, and Lennon knows it too. She giggles behind me, whispering to Brandon. I notice Hunter leaning against the wall on the other side, glaring at the happy couple, and I wonder if there’s more to the roommate story than Lennon’s told me.

“I’d be happy to.” Liam hands his stick to Hunter, then comes to stand behind me with a knowing smirk. I bend over the table with Liam’s large frame covering mine, his arms around me as he helps guide the pole between my thumb and forefinger.

“Nice and slow...don’t rush or you’ll risk giving it too much pressure and it’ll bounce off instead of falling right in,” he directs, and I pretend to be helpless in his hold.

“Like this?” I stroke it back and forth, keeping my eyes on the ball.

“Perfect,” Liam says seductively in my ear, then slowly backs away and stands to the side.

“Fifteen in the corner.” After a few seconds, I take the shot, and it effortlessly sinks into the pocket. Then I’m left with one more striped ball.

“Your options are limited,” I mock as he starts unbuttoning his jeans.

“Don’t act like this wasn’t your plan all along,” he muses, pulling them off his legs until he’s standing in only his boxer shorts.

“Final ball,” I say, grabbing the cue chalk and rubbing it on the end of the stick. “Fourteen side pocket.” I look at Liam who winks at me. He doesn’t care that I’m going to beat him, but when his gaze follows Mason, I instinctively turn and see the intense, pissed-off expression painted on his face. If they’re as close of friends as they say, he should know Liam is purposely taunting him. But maybe he thinks I’m the one out of the loop instead and really believes Liam is flirting with me?

That makes this upcoming victory even better.

“Yes!” Lennon cheers the second the ball goes in. “Y’all owe me!”

“She still has to make the eight ball, babe,” Brandon tells her, chuckling.

“True,” I say. “But I’m pretty certain Liam’s out of clothes to take off.”

We all look at him, waiting to see if he backs out.

“I’ve got nothing to hide.” Without another beat, he pulls his boxers down to his ankles, then stands up proudly.

“Oh my God…” I quickly cover my eyes and turn around, blushing that he actually did it.

“Dude!” Hunter shouts at him. “No one wants to see that.”

I giggle. “I wouldn’t say no one…”

“Okay, game over. Clothes back on.” Mason’s booming voice echoes over everyone.

I peek between my fingers and see he’s standing inches from me. “Thank f**k you didn’t miss or give him the chance to win.” He lowers his voice so no one else hears, but it wouldn’t matter, considering how loud everyone’s being. Between Hunter and Brandon telling Liam to put his clothes back on and Lennon telling them to pay up, it’s loud as hell in here.

“Why?” I drop my arms, looking up at him. “You’re the only one allowed to hit it and quit it?” I raise my brows, challenging him.

“What? No. Soph…”

“Just stop.” I turn around toward my shoes and slide them on. Grabbing my earrings off the table, I’m grateful when I see Liam getting dressed, though he was definitely nice to look at. Unfortunately, he doesn’t give me butterflies or feelings of wanting more. Only assholes like Mason do apparently.

Marching into the kitchen with Mason on my heels, I grab the bottle of j******f the counter and pour myself another shot.

“You don’t need to drink that just because of me.”

“Why? You don’t think I’ve earned it?” I tilt my head back and swallow it down before he can respond. “Also, get off your high horse. I’m not drinking because of you. Actually, scratch that. I am...because you frustrate the hell out of me.”

Mason looks over my head, and when I hear my sister and the other guys chatting, I know they’re on their way in here too. Mason grabs my elbow and drags me out, not letting go until we’re in a quiet hallway.

“What are you doing?” I whisper-hiss. “I’m not a rag doll you can just manhandle.”

“Soph, I know. Jesus. I’m just trying to talk to you without all of them hearing.” He brushes his hand through his hair as if he’s completely flustered.

“Okay, what do you want to talk about?” I cross my arms over my chest and wait impatiently.

“I know you’re pissed, but trust me when I tell you that not getting involved with me is for the best. If I was a selfish man, I’d say to hell with it and pull you into my bed right now.”